Potential bidders for the company were said to be Los Angeles billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, and well-known names such as Mark Cuban and powerhouse Santa Monica investment firm Colony Capital. Guggenheim Partners, which recently led a consortium that bought the Los Angeles Dodgers, was also said to be interested in acquiring AEG.

“From the very beginning of the sales process, we have made it clear to our employees and partners throughout the world that unless the right buyer came forward with a transaction on acceptable terms we would not sell the company,” Anschutz said in a statement.